Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Electronic mail

Electronic mail
Objectives:
1. Understanding concept of e-mail ?
2. How does it work ?
3. Becoming an e-mail user.

Understanding e-mail:
ü  Electronic mail Is a popular Network
application that allows you to exchange written messages electronically over computer Networks.
ü  You can send the electronic messages to: - people anywhere in the world
- someone right next to you

Advantages:
ü  Message can be communicated to people around the world in a quick & Fast manner any time of day or night.
ü  It allows asynchronous communication in which, it is not necessary that the recipient should be on line, when a message addressed to him / her is being sent / received.
ü  One need not be very formal in composing the email messages,  However, one should follow netiquette rules.
ü  This is a very inexpensive mode of communication, in which large no of people spread all over the world can be covered, without additional costs.

Disadvantages:
ü  Low Security, low privacy or less confidential as messages may be intercepted by individuals other than sender or recipient:
- Due to wrong address
- Due to transmission error
- Due to hacking
- Legal issues associated with authentication of email messages
Note: Technology is already trying to provide solutions like encryption/ decryption and digital signatures, which are not being covered in the basic lecture on email.



How does it work s?

E-mail is a “Store and Forward Service”

ü  The process of communication through e-mail is based on the Client-Server technology.
ü  The computer which provides e-mail facility is called Server or Email Service provider.
ü  The computer which avails of this facility is called Client.

How to become an E-mail user:

ü  Apply to an E-mail Service Provider for an e-mail address (sometimes referred as email account also)
ü  Load necessary Software in your computer.
ü  Your computer should get connected to email server, either through: – dialup connectivity ( via a modem) – lease line – Satellite based connectivity
Structure of an E-mail address:
E-mail address has two parts
user_name@Host_name



Person’s user name     Tells the e-mail server on which
computer the recipient’s e-mail account is
E.g.: ashok@akbdevhelper.blogspot.com

E-mail Software: (Few examples)


ü  Server software
Ø  SMTP
Ø  POP
Ø  Microsoft Exchange
Ø  Lotus Notes

ü  Client Software
Ø  Eudora
Ø  PINE
Ø  MS-Outlook
Ø  Outlook Express


What you can do with any of the e-mail Software?
ü  Send e-mails to an individual or a group of people
ü  Receive e-mails
ü  Send mails with attachments
ü  Reply to / Forward to
ü  Delete messages
ü  Printing / Saving to file on your computer
ü  Organizing mails (making folders and address books)

But for that …….
“You have to CONFIGURE your system”
WHAT EXACTLY IS CONFIGURATION?
Ø  Your E-mail does not come automatically to your system.
Ø  On invoking the email S/W, it first goes to the E-mail server in which you have registered.
Ø  The mail waits for you to go an pick it up with a E-mail software like MS Outlook, Outlook Express etc.
Ø  For this you have to give correct information about yourself and only then you are able to collect your mail.
How to configure?
Every email S/W has a procedure of configuring the system. Usually, the steps of configurations are guided through wizard.



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